HOW SAFE IS YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS?

Fire safety quiz

Fire safety at home or in your business doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. A few simple checks and good habits can make a huge difference in reducing risk and protecting the people, property, and assets that matter most. The challenge is often knowing where to start and whether the measures you have in place are actually enough.

This quick quiz is designed to help you understand how prepared your home or business really is. By answering a few straightforward questions, you’ll get a clearer picture of your current fire safety and practical suggestions to help improve it where needed.

What the numbers say about fire safety in UK homes

When it comes to fire safety it’s easy to think 'sure, we’ve got a smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher, we’re covered.' And in most cases you may be right, but data shows there’s often a gap between having something installed and ensuring it’s actually working or being maintained.

Around 92% of households in England reported having a working smoke alarm, but even among those households, not everyone regularly tests them. In a snapshot of home fire safety visits a few years ago, just under a quarter of households reported they had never tested their smoke alarm.

When fire crews attend dwelling fires, the data suggests a smoke alarm was present and did its job (sounded correctly) in only 47% of cases.

Having an alarm is important, but it’s not the same as having an alarm that’s maintained, well-placed, and able to work when it counts. A few minutes every month or so is all it takes to check that your alarm still works, batteries are good and nothing is blocking it.

Fire safety tips for your home

Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and test them regularly (weekly is ideal) so you know they still work.

Always use the correct chargers for phones, laptops and e-cigarettes, avoid overloading sockets and don’t leave devices charging on beds, sofas or other soft furnishings.

Extinguish candles, cigarettes and fireplaces fully before you leave the room or go to bed, and keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.

Don’t leave ovens or microwaves running unattended and never put metal objects in the microwave; stay nearby while cooking so you can react quickly if something goes wrong.

Turn off electric blankets, gaming consoles and portable heaters before sleep, keep heaters away from curtains and furniture, and place hot hair tools on a heat-resistant surface.

UK businesses are not always prepared

In one study analysing fire safety data, industrial premises (24.85%), food & drink premises (19.13%) and retail premises (17.66%) accounted for more than 60% of all work lace fires recorded between 2024 and 2025.

In the most recent national fire safety audit data (year ending March 2025), fire services carried out over 51,000 fire safety audits, and only 58% of those audits received a “satisfactory” outcome.

A significant proportion of buildings, like offices, shops and small businesses, may not have up-to-date, adequately documented fire-safety arrangements. And for small businesses, that’s often where risk can slip.

Whether you run a small shop, a café, a studio or manage a workspace, it’s worth reviewing your fire-risk assessment and making sure all documentation and safety measures are up to date, including alarms, escape routes, and staff awareness/training if applicable.

Fire safety tips for your business

Regularly review your fire risk assessment and make sure any actions it highlights are actually carried out, not just filed away.

Lock away combustible products, store flammable liquids in suitable approved containers and only keep the minimum quantities you need on site.

Check that perimeter security, external lighting and any CCTV are effective so it’s harder for someone to start a fire deliberately.

Test your fire alarm system routinely, keep escape routes completely clear and ensure extinguishers and other equipment are serviced on schedule.

Confirm that fire wardens and key staff know where equipment is, how to use it safely on small fires, and where everyone should go in an evacuation.

The good news, a few simple steps can make a big difference

Because many issues come from lack of maintenance or lack of formal checks, the solution is often straightforward and not expensive. For example:

Test your smoke alarms regularly (once a month is a good habit) - just press the “test” button.
Make sure you have enough alarms, and that they’re placed properly (out of the way of kitchen steam or dust, high enough, etc.).
For businesses or larger properties: keep a fire-risk assessment, update it when circumstances change (new layout, new equipment, new occupants), and ensure all fire-safety procedures are documented and reviewed.
Make staff or household members aware: alarms are only useful if people know what to do when they go off, and feel confident to act.

Because almost everyone already has a smoke alarm, the difference between ‘protected’ and ‘truly prepared’ often comes down to simple maintenance and awareness.

For business owners, compliance with fire-safety regulations isn’t just about ticking boxes - up-to-date documentation and good practices can ease inspections, insurance applications, and help ensure the safety of customers, staff or tenants.

A quick test or a short review of plans takes far less time than handling the aftermath of a fire or dealing with regulatory or insurance fallout.

Take the quiz and make sure your fire safety is real

That’s exactly why we built the Spy Alarms Fire Safety Quiz to help you check whether you’re already doing the basics, or whether a few easy steps could make your home or business much safer. Take the quiz now and see whether you really are one click away from peace of mind, or whether a small check could give you extra security.

Protect what matters most

Find out more about fire protection at home and fire protection for your business with Spy Alarms.

Contact us today or find out more about the areas we cover.

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Why choose Spy Alarms?

When it comes to fire safety, experience and reliability matter.

Spy Alarms has been safeguarding homes and businesses across London and the South East for more than 40 years, installing tailored fire protection systems designed around each property’s needs.

From early-detection smoke alarms for homes to fully compliant commercial fire alarm systems, their expert engineers design, install and maintain solutions that meet the latest safety standards.

With BAFE accreditation, free site surveys, and optional 24/7 monitoring, Spy Alarms gives homeowners and businesses the confidence that their people, property and operations are protected by proven fire safety expertise.

Fire safety, Tips and Advice

Browse through our articles section below for useful guides, advice and insights into fire safety at home and work. If you have a question, get in touch with our friendly team.

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